Mauritius agrees to take Nepali workers through government-to-government system

Mauritius has agreed to take Nepali workers through a government-to-government system, with employers bearing the cost of recruitment, Nepal's youth, labour and employment ministry has said.

Under the arrangement, workers will be recruited through an official channel run by the two governments rather than through private agents. The ministry said Mauritius has accepted Nepal's proposal and confirmed its agreement to the system.

The Mauritius High Commission in New Delhi sent a revised draft memorandum of understanding to Nepal's foreign ministry on 29 October 2026. The draft covers jobs in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, tourism and information technology, with what the ministry described as attractive pay and service facilities for Nepali workers.

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It also sets out how the system would work in practice. Recruitment would be organised at government level, with skilled and trained workers selected for the jobs. The process would follow the laws of both countries, and the draft covers the responsibilities of employers, the rights and welfare of workers, and arrangements for their return home once a contract ends.

The agreement follows talks earlier this year. On 9 June 2026, Labour Minister Ramji Yadav met his Mauritian counterpart, Mohammad Reza Cassam Uteem, in Geneva, Switzerland. Yadav proposed expanding labour cooperation through the government-to-government route, and Uteem said employers in Mauritius already bear recruitment costs. He also expressed interest in creating more job opportunities for Nepali workers and in holding an international employment fair in Nepal.

Mauritius has now committed to finalising the revised memorandum and moving ahead with it, the ministry said.

For Nepali workers, the significance of the deal lies in its costs and protections. When employers pay recruitment costs, workers start their jobs without the debt that often comes with paying large fees to go abroad. A formal agreement between two governments also gives workers a clearer legal footing in the country where they work and a defined route home when their contract finishes.

The ministry said the arrangement supports the government's priority of expanding employment opportunities abroad that are safe and dignified.